With Mists of Pandaria, mages can begin choosing their talents beginning at level fifteen. As of Mists of Pandaria talents are no longer tied to specializations. Players may choose a new talent from the same group of three talents at periodic levels (15, 30, 45, etc.).

As with the other original classes, at level 10 a mage can begin spending talent points in order to gain and improve abilities. Mage talents underwent a significant review for patch 1.11, with additional modifications in 2.0.1 and 3.0.2.

Below, each talent has a quoted description of the talent, which was taken from the game. The differences between the various levels of each talent are quoted in brackets. For example, "Reduces the chance that the opponent can resist your Arcane spells by {2/4/6/8/10}%" to describe the 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 point variations of the talent.

Prerequisites are listed for all talents that have them.

All tier N talents require that you spend 5(N-1) talent points in their tree as a prerequisite. For example, to get a Tier 2 Arcane talent, you must first have spent at least 5 points on other Arcane talents, Tier 3 requires 10 points, etc.

When your Mana Shield or Mage Ward absorbs damage your spell damage is increased by {10/20}% of the amount absorbed for 10 sec. In addition, when your Mana Shield is destroyed, all enemies within 6 yards are knocked back 12 yards.

Fire spells are traditionally harder-hitting and burstier in nature, resulting in higher sustained single-target damage. The Fire tree reflects this with its focus on DPS talents such as [Critical Mass] and [Pyromaniac], and while it has good survival abilities ([Blast Wave], for instance), they are not as significant as the other trees' abilities, turning the Mage into the proverbial glass cannon: kill fast and die fast.

Increases your chance to critically hit with Scorch, Fireball and Frostfire Bolt by and additional {1/2/3}% and your damaging Scorch spells have a {33/66/100}% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to spell damage, increasing spell critical strike chance against that target by 1% and lasts 30 sec. Stacks up to 5 times.

Causes your Fire Ward and Frost Ward spells to have a {15/30}% chance to reflect the warded spell while active. In addition, your Molten Armor has a {50/100}% chance to affect ranged and spell attacks.

When below 35% health all damage taken is reduced by {10/20}% and your Pyroblast spell's cast time is reduced by {1.75/3.5} secs while the cooldown is increased by {2.5/5} secs. In addition, melee and ranged attacks made against you have a {5/10}% chance to disarm your attacker's main hand and ranged weapons.

Increases the damage of your Fireball, Frostfire Bolt and Pyroblast spells by an amount equal to {5/10/15}% of your spell power. In addition, each time your Ignite talent causes damage, you have a {33/67/100}% chance to regain 2% of your base mana.

Any time you score 2 non-periodic spell criticals in a row using Fireball, Fire Blast, Scorch, Living Bomb, or Frostfire Bolt, you have a {33/66/100}% chance the next Pyroblast spell cast within 10 sec will be instant cast.

The target becomes a Living Bomb, taking X Fire damage over 12 sec. After 12 sec or when the spell is dispelled, the target explodes dealing Y Fire damage to all enemies within 10 yards.

The Frost tree has an emphasis in control and survivability talents such as [Permafrost] and [Ice Barrier]. It sacrifices some of its single-target DPS in exchange for powerful snares, the highest Mage AoE damage and higher mana-efficiency than other trees that makes it excel in fights that include multiple adds or are longer than average. Its control and longevity earned it the crown of most recognized PvP Mage tree.

Increases the armor and resistances given by your Frost Armor and Ice Armor spells by {25/50}%. In addition, gives your Frost Ward and Fire Ward a {15/30}% chance to negate the warded damage spell and restore mana equal to the damage caused.

Increases your chance to critically hit with your Frostbolt by an additional {1/2/3}% and gives your Frost damage spells a {33/66/100}% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance spells will critically hit the target by 1% for 15 seconds. Stacks up to 5 times.

Increases the duration of your Summon Water Elemental spell by {5/10/15} sec and your Frostbolt spell has a {33/66/100}% chance to grant the Replenishment effect to up to 10 party or raid members mana regeneration equal to 1% of their maximum mana per 5 sec for 15 sec. This effect cannot occur more often than once every 6 sec.

Arcane Concentration gives you a chance to enter a Clearcasting state, improving your mana efficiency by about 10%. When you proc Clearcasting, take the opportunity to cast a mana expensive spell.

Pyroblast is the highest single target damage spell available, but is limited by its long casting time.

Ice Shards, Frostbite and Shatter are the holy trinity of Shatter/critical hit Frost mage build, giving you a 50% bonus to crit a frozen target. They can now all be maxed with only 20 points in Frost. Also, Shatter now affects all your spells, not just Frost spells, giving additional flexibility to Shatter builds.

Ice Block is a very situational ability with a number of uses. As of patch 2.3.2 Ice Block is trainable to any mage at the level of 30. See main article for details: Ice Block.

The tier 7 Frost talent Ice Barrier is potentially much more efficient than Mana Shield. In Patch 1.11 its cooldown was reduced to 30 seconds, making it much more useful. Its functionality and mana efficiency are similar to a self-cast version of a priest's Power Word: Shield.